Concerns over Nenagh nursing unit

Nenagh councillor Seamie Morris has written to the Health Information Equality Authority (HIQA) seeking clarifications in relation to the planned repurposing of the new multi-million euro Saint Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit in Tyone to  a stepdown facility to ease patient overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick.

Cllr Morris said HIQA recently inspected St Conlon's Nursing Home at Church Road, Nenagh, and was not happy with the standards of that building.

He said the key purpose of the new Saint Conlon’s unit at Tyone was to ensure HIQA standards were met as the current home at Church Road was, according to the authority’s inspectors, not fit for purpose.

He has asked HIQA if the use of the Tyone facility as a temporary patient stepdown centre will have an impact on registering the new property as a community nursing home, for which purposes it was originally intended.

Cllr Morris has also asked HIQA for details of what, if any, communication it has had from the HSE over the latter’s plan to repurpose the Tyone facility.

He has also asked that he be furnished with details on any such communication.

He has informed HIQA that he hopes it will be in a position to address his queries as the current uncertainty is having a detrimental effect on local staff, patients and families.